Effective two-way communication
It’s always good to talk and actively communicate with your school.
In primary school you can expect a lot more communication than secondary/post-primary, with schools relying more on your child to share information with you.
Primary schools often work on the premise of telling parents the same things multiple times in a number of different ways. You may initially be overwhelmed by the volume but the purpose is to ensure everybody receives the messages.
Book bags
A letter in your child’s bag is still a really common way of sending information and messages home at primary school, so always have a rummage.
Website
Class pages on the school website are a good way for parents to see what children are learning and find a copy of homework, suggested reading, upcoming trips and school events.
Social media
Facebook groups and Whatsapp groups are popular at primary school (sometimes secondary/post-primary too) but they’re generally set up and run by parents rather than the school. A closed group is a great way for parents to ask each other questions about homework, lost property etc, but check that school policy and your home-school agreement allows this first.
Email/Text
Often used to remind parents about own clothes days, class assemblies or PTA activities. Schools often use specific parent communications apps and software. You may be able to pay for school meals, trips and clubs or book your spot at parents’ evenings online via these systems too. You will need to register but once you are set up it’s fairly inituitive to use.
Face to face
There’s often a chance to talk to teachers at the start or finish of the school day on certain days. Check which days this happens and make an appointment for anything more than just a quick catch up or if you want to discuss something that needs more privacy. If you’re not in school regularly, speak to the office and arrange a meeting for a time that suits you, or ask if the teacher can call you. Most schools take a flexible approach.
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In this section, we’ll cover how to how to raise a concern or a complaint confidently. -
What do we mean by parent voice and how can you use yours? We cover all the ways that you can share your parent voice regarding key issues in education, including contacting your local MP. -
We break down all the ways you can get more involved in your child’s school.
